Ecosystems

Microbes

Check out the communities of bacteria living on your tongue

Bacteria scraped off the tongue offer a window into how the microbes structure their communities.

Animals

Let’s learn about the creepy crawlies in your home

From ants to spiders to crickets to bed bugs — a whole host of insects and other arthropods may be hanging out with you at home.

Animals

How an encounter with this odd-looking bird inspired a career

Kevin Burgio overcame many hardships to become a scientist. Now he studies how animals like the Carolina parakeet and Tasmanian tiger went extinct.

Ecosystems

Newfound desert soil community lives on sips of fog

Lichens and other fungi and algae team up to form a 'grit-crust' on the parched soil of Chile’s Atacama Desert. Those species slake their thirst with moisture from coastal fog.

Ecosystems

Scientists Say: Estuary

This is where a freshwater river meets a salty sea. This environment has brackish water, a mix of saltwater and freshwater.

Climate

5 things to know about the climate-saving benefits of tree planting

A recent analysis of the benefits of massive efforts to plant more trees triggered a firestorm of controversy.

Animals

The moon has power over animals

The moon is known for its tidal effects. But its light also can exert a powerful influence on animals large and small.

Ecosystems

Groundwater pumping is draining rivers and streams worldwide

Excessive groundwater use could push more than half of the regions that depend on water pumped up from underground aquifers past an environmental tipping point by 2050. That could threaten aquatic ecosystems around the world.

Earth

Earthworms lose weight in soils polluted with microplastics

Bits of plastic pollution in the ground caused earthworms to lose weight. That could hurt the worms’ ability to make soil healthy, and may explain why plants were stunted.

Ecosystems

Scientists Say: Wetland

Wetlands are land areas that are flooded with water some or all of the time. They’re more than just wet, though. They filter water, shelter young animals and much more.

Ecosystems

Warming pushes lobsters and other species to seek cooler homes

Plants and animals are moving toward the poles, changing timing of important events and more — all in response to climate change.

Ecosystems

Photographing wildflowers and other ways you can help fight climate change

Citizen scientists can help with climate and conservation research by counting birds, taking pictures of flowers and deciphering old weather records.